Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 8163, the Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act of 2022, which is sponsored by my Energy and Commerce Committee colleague, Representative

Tom O'Halleran.

This legislation renews a program in the Public Health Service Act that authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to improve local trauma care readiness and emergency medical services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, trauma is a leading cause of death for children and adults under the age of 44. Ensuring access to trauma care requires many crucial components, and the window of opportunity for a chance at survival is narrow for a severely injured patient; a prompt response is truly a matter of life and death.

However, in many rural parts of the United States, accident victims and others suffering life-threatening injuries may not be able to receive needed trauma care within an hour, or even many hours, following an incident.

H.R. 8163 will help ensure seriously injured patients have the best possible chance for survival by supporting States to coordinate and improve regional emergency medical services and trauma care, and by supporting trauma centers to improve their emergency system situational awareness and access.

The bill also authorizes grants for carrying out research and demonstration projects to support the improvement of emergency medical services and trauma care in rural areas.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Pallone and Chair Eshoo for working with us to make sure the State match is maintained.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of 8163, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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